Puel: My Players Gave Their Best
- Claude Puel credited Leicester City’s togetherness after they beat Everton on New Year’s Day
- The Foxes won 1-0 thanks to Jamie Vardy’s second-half goal
- Puel wished the Club’s fans, their friends and family a happy New Year at the full-time whistle
Jamie Vardy’s seventh Premier League goal of the season sealed all three points for the Foxes, who moved up to seventh in the table after 21 fixtures.
Puel says his stars reacted well to their defeat by Cardiff on Saturday, and applauded the manner in which they defended their slender lead on Merseyside.
“I think we had a disappointment after the game against Cardiff,” Puel told LCFC TV. “It was important to have the right reaction in this situation. I am happy, of course, about my players and about their work and togetherness today.
“They gave their best, it was the same thing against Cardiff. I think against Cardiff, we lacked a little more freshness to have the efficiency and precision in their play – good pass, good touches, good control and good moves, all these things.
“It was difficult also for Everton to find a solution against us because we defended very well, deep, with togetherness and quality.
“After, I think it was difficult after our recovery to have good moves and it was important in the second half to try and use some good opportunities when we recovered the ball.
“We tried to score. With the ball recovery and a good assist from Ricky (Ricardo Pereira), he gave a good ball with good timing and space for Jamie [Vardy]. We know the quality of Jamie in this situation.”
Puel believes his outfit managed their tiredness well after contesting their fourth Premier League game in the space of just 11 days over the festive period.
“I think it was not a fantastic game for both teams,” he added. “We defended very well with good organisation. I was happy at half-time about our togetherness, good organisation and good work. It was important I said to get a little more control of the ball in the second half.
“It was difficult for Everton and for us. It’s normal in this busy period for all the players to be tired, but it was important to have good opportunities, to be strong and to use a good counter-attack to score and to win this game.
“We managed this game with our tiredness and difficulties, but it’s a fantastic feeling after this game because it’s fantastic to win and take three points away against Everton.
“We said after the game against Cardiff, it was important to have the right reaction away against Everton and to recover the three points.
Evans: It Was A Battle
Leicester City defender Jonny Evans spoke to LCFC TV following their 1-0 victory away at Everton in the Premier League.
“This good reward and good win shows the quality of my players. Sometimes with a fantastic performance on the pitch with the ball, sometimes with our togetherness, spirit and mentality. This is perfect, it’s a good balance.”
Puel, the Club’s players and staff all headed over to the stand housing the Blue Army after the game, and thanked the travelling fans for their vociferous support throughout 2018.
“It was good timing to win this game, of course, on 1 January,” he added. “I would like to wish a fantastic happy New Year for all of our fans and for their family and friends.
“It was important for them also to win this game and to offer them this good reward for the New Year.
“It’s a fantastic feeling and I hope we can continue this way after a good rest because we needed to recover a lot and not lose in this period.”